Stage construction



Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ANTON/7.161207, BY 4 W AW ATTORNEY Se t. 2, 1941. A. F. GROT STAGE CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22,- 1940 INVENTOR ANTOM Y'GQOT,

ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1941. A. F. GROT STAGE vCONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 22, 1940 AA/ro/s/fiGzor,

BY I

ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1941. GROT 2,254,650

STAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ANTO/VE Gear,

ATTORNEY psept 1941- A. F GROT 2,254,650

' STAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Svucavbom .A VTO/VF. (3/207 Mom 144;;

A. F. GROT STAGE CONSTRUCTION Sept. 2,1941;

Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES", PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to stage settings, and pertains particularly to a stage structure providing an effective simulation of the undulating surface of a natural body of water. My invention is particularly useful in producing a photographically effective simulation of water for cinematography.

O e of the particular objects of the invention 1s A further object of the invention is to provide a stage setting of the character above set forth, comprised of a plurality of separate structures disposed in contiguously alined relationship, in

to provide a stage structure carrying a plurality I, of relatively movable light-transmitting screen Fig. 2 is a partly broken-away view thereof, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the screen support and drive mechanism, as taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation as taken on line 44 in Fig, l, with the backgrounddrop and screens omitted;

Fig. 5 is a partly broken-away detail taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6a is a front elevation'of a type of lighttransmitting screen member which may be emwhich each structure is operated in a timed relation to the adjacent structures whereby the shifting light and shadow patterns provided by the respective structures are placed in consonance with one another and no demarcation of .the separate light and shadow patterned areasv of the adjacent structures is discernible.

A further object is to provide a structure of the character described, adapted for use in conjunction with a background drop, characterized by the provision of a supporting structure disposed rearwardly of such a drop and above a simulated horizon level, said structure carrying an operating head structure having a plurality of relatively movable light-transmitting screen mem bers depending to positions below such simulated horizon level and including means for moving said screen members in a generally upward and downward direction in phase displaced relation,

and means for directing light through said screen members upon the rearward surface of such background drop, said background drop being translucent at portions below such simulated horizon level.

Other objects and features of the invention will be brought out in the ensuing specific description of a particular embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a device constructed according to the present invention,

adapted to support and operate three separate light-transmitting screen members rearwardly of a background drop;

Fig. la is a fragmentary section of a portion thereof, as taken on line la-la in Fig. 4;

ployed for the simulation of a calmly undulating water surface;

Figs. 6b and 60, respectively, are broken-away views of the upper central and lower central portions of screen members which may be used n S pe posed relation'to a screen member of the type shown in Fig. 6a;

Fig. 7a is a front elevation of another type of light-transmitting screen member which may be employed for the simulation of a stormy, turbulent water surface;

Figs. 7b and 70, respectively, are broken-away views of the upper central andlower central portions of screen members which may be used in superimposed relation to a. screen member of the type shown in Fig. 7a;

Fig. 8a is a front elevation of another type of light-transmitting screen member which may be employed for the simulation of a sweeping or moving body of water, such as' useful as a background for a simulated ocean-going vessel;

Figs. 8b and 80, respectively, are broken-away views of the upper central and lower central portions of screen members which may be used in superimposed relation to a screen member of the type shownin Fig. 8a.

Fig. 9 is a typical transverse section through a cinematographic stage setting utilizing the construction of the present invention; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view on reduced scale, showing the manner in which a plurality of separate cinematographic stage units of this invention may be arranged to simulate a large expanse of water surrounding a stage setting.

Referring to Figs. 1-5 of the drawings, the structure of the present invention may comprise a base portion I provided, if desired, with a plurality of supporting rollers 2 adapted to rest on a foundation or floor 3. from the base I is a support structure 4 carrying a vertically adjustable operating head structure 5, and preferably also carrying a vertically adjustable platform member 6 which may be em- Extending upwardlyployed to carry lighting units or the like such as are illustrated more particularly in Fig. 9.

Mounted at the forward portion of the head 5 I provide a support structure I carrying a plu rality of light-transmitting screen members 8a, Rb, and 80, each of the screen members be n mounted for vertical movement or reciprocation. The support structure I may comprise forwardly downwardly projecting support arms 9a, 9b, and 90 each carrying a roller member I Ia, I Ib, and I In, respectively, at its forward end, said roller members being spaced from one another to provide clearance for the respective screen members.

The upper edges of the screen members 8a-8c are provided with a clamping strip as indicated at I2a, and I 2b, and I20, respectively, extending for substantially the full length of each such screen member, to which driving cables or the like I3a, I3b, and I30 are respectively attached, said driving cables being carried upwardly to operating rollers [4a, Nb, and I40 respectively, and secured thereto as at I5a, I5b and I50. The rollers I4a-I4c are rotatably mounted on the support 1 as at IIia, I6b and I60. and are rotated in such manner as to cause the screens 8a-8c to reciprocate vertically in phase displaced relation.

This movement is readily obtained through the agency of a plurality of driving cables or wires connected to the respective rollers as at I'Ia, Nb, and Ho (seen best in Fig. 3) the cable I'Ia being carried rearwardly and over a pulley I8 and thence to a driving member I9 and is connected to a projection 2| carried thereby. The driving member comprises a collar rotatably secured upon a crank pin 22 mounted on one of the spokes of a driving wheel 23 which is rotatably mounted on a frame member 24 secured to the structure 5. The cable IT?) is similarly connected to a projection 25 on the driving member I9, and the cable H is carried over a pulley 26 correspond ing to the pulley IB and thence to a third projection 21 on the driving member I9. The projections 2!, 25, and 21 are conveniently spaced at equal angles from one another about the crank pin 22. The crank pin 22 may be caused to be positioned at any desired radial separation from the center of the driving wheel 23, as by threadedly mounting the same in any one of a plurality of holes 22a, 22b, etc., spaced progressively at increasing radial distances from such center. Placement of the pin in the different holes in the spokes of the driving wheel 23 will thus provide various lengths of stroke for the reciprocatory movement of the screen members 8a-8c.

The driving wheel 23 is driven at a reduced speed through the agency of a chain 3| operatively engaging a sprocket 32 mounted on a stub shaft 33 and secured to a larger sprocket 34 driven through a chain 35 by a sprocket pinion 36 mounted on a shaft 31. The shaft 3'! extends for a part of the length of the frame and is mounted for rotation with its ends projecting through spaced journals 38 and 39 secured to the frame 5. A sprocket 4| is provided on the shaft adjacent bearing 39 and is operatively connected through a drive chain 42 to a sprocket 43 which is driven through reducing gear carried by a motor 44.

It should now be apparent that operation of the motor 44 will cause rotation of the shaft 3'! and the driving wheel 23. This results in a circular movement of the driving member I9 and since the driving cables IIa, Ilb and He areguided to this member, constituting a single throw crank, from diiferent angular directions, rotation of this crank will result in an out of phase reciprocation of these cables. Since the cables ar connected to the respective driving rolls Ifia, I 6b and IE0 and the connecting cables I311, I321 and I3c are also connected to these driving rolls the screen 8a, 8b and will reciprocate with respect to the frame upon which the screens are mounted in and out of phase relation to one another. Obviously other crank and connecting arrangements could be used in place of the one shown. For example, a conventional crankshaft arrangement, with three angularly displaced cranks, could be used. However, the forces imposed on the structure are not very great and the system shown is advantageous because of its simplicity. In practice the screens are reciprocated at a relatively low rate, for example, at about five to ten reciprocations per minute.

To prevent the screens from swinging at the bottom I provide a plurality of guide members I41 (Figs. 1 and let), each comprising a plurality of vertically extending partition members I4B, having their faces extending parallel to the faces of the screens and spaced from one another to provide slots in which the screens may reciprocate. Suitable means is preferably provided for biasing the screens downwardly to keep them taut during reciprocation. Although numerous arrangements may be used, I conveniently provide rather heavy metallic stripping members I 49, I49, I49" attached to the bottoms of the respective screens as a load for this purpose, such stripping corresponding generally to the strips I2a,

I2b and I20 above.

It is to be emphasized that the structure as now described only constitutes a framework or frame means for mounting the screen members and the driving means for reciprocating the same.

Although the particular framework described is particularly advantageous for this purpose and is part of my invention, it is to be understood that it is shown only by way of example and that other types of framework and driving mechanisms may be employed without departing from the broader aspects of my invention.

Each of the screen members 8a, 8b and 80 provides a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relatively transparent areas. A simple form of construction consists in fabricating the screen members from a transparent sheet of material such as Celluloid, Cellophane or the like and providing this member with relative- 1y opaque areas. These opaque areas may be applied photographically or by painting or printing or the like.

Referring now to 7a and 8a, and the related Figs. 6b, 60, 7b, '70 and 8b, 8c, the screen members each comprise a translucent and preferably transparent sheet 45 on which opaque markings are provided as at 45, 41 and 43 (Figs. 6a, 7a and 8a, respectively). These markings are so arranged as to provide a simulation of perspective from bottom to top, causing the resultant light and dark areas obtained by the superimposition of a plurality of screens to become smaller as the simulated horizon is approached. This is accomplished by using relatively coarse and widely spaced markings at the lower end of the screen. and relatively fine and closely spaced markings at the upper end of the screen.

The screens illustrated in Figs. 6a, 6b and 60 may be used in the respective positions of screen members 8a, 8b and 80 (Figs. 1 and 3) and the generally horizontal undulating markings of the type illustrated will, when reciprocated and illuminated as described, provide a simulation of the light and shadow appearance of a calmly undulating surface of a body of water. By experiment, it has been found that practically any arrangement of pattern or lines will be useful. The several superimposed screen members may carry similar opaque areas, such as shown in Fig.

-6a, but somewhat more natural effects are produced by the use of differently marked superimposed screen members. For example, the markings 46 in Fig. 6a are extended as generally horizontal undulations, and the markings 46 in Fig. 6b and 45" in Fig. 6c are arranged to provide a plurality of shallow peaks.

Referring to Figs. 7a, '7b and 70, I have shown three light-transmitting screen members which may be superimposed to create a simulation of a turbulent or stormy body of water the markings 41 being arranged in Fig. 7a as superimposed deep and shallow undulations, and in Figs. 7b and 7c the markings 41' and 4'!" are arranged as similar markings in a different patterning.

In Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c, the markings 48, 48' and 48" are arranged at an angle to the horizontal, but otherwise comparable to the markings 46, 4B and 45". The effect produced by screen members of this type is that of a horizontally moving body of water, such as might be observed from a moving boat.

It will be noted that for each set of screen members a plurality of screen members is used.v It is preferable to use at least three screen members and to reciprocate them in out of phase relation whereby a plurality of superimposed screen members are always in movement. However, for scenes which do not require the high degree of simulation required for most cinem-af tography, such as some scenes on the legitimate stage, two screens reciprocating in out of. phase relation will give satisfactory results.

In use, the present apparatus is employed for the production of simulative patterns by proin the screens will of course intercept light from the light sources and prevent its passage through the screens to a position on the opposite side where the screens are to be used, viewed or photographed. Since the three screens are reciprocating in phase displaced relation the compo site light and shadow pattern produced by the three screens will be constantly shifting and the resultant effect is the same as that produced by light striking and reflecting from the surface of a moving body of water.

Although the effect can be viewed from a position in front of the outer screen Ha, I prefer to project the light and shadow pattern onto a stationary transparent or translucent screen, drop, or backing member 50 of muslin, silk, or the like. This member in its upper extremities may be shaded, bleached, or painted, for example in the portion 5|, to give the appearance of clouds and provides a horizon line 52. The screen or drop 50 is supported from above in any suitable manner, as from the rafters of the studio or by means of other supports not shown. In order to prevent shadows of the machinery or framework from appearing on this screen I provide an opaque member such as a black cloth goboe or black-out 53 which is attached to the back of the member 50 at the horizon line 52 and extends upwardly over the operating mechanism and is suitably secured to a stationary member such as the top of the framework 4 by means of suitable cables 54. Even though the member 50 is stationary the effects of cloud movement and colors may be produced on the upper portions 5| thereof by means of shifting lights and colored lights, or by other means as desired.

Under some circumstances a single set of screens such as described above will have sufficient area to give the desired view. For example, a single set of screens may be used to simulate a body of water as viewed through a window or from a porch, or as a background for a scene including a rowboat or the like. For larger scenes such as ocean or beach scenes it is not practical to use a single large set of screens since the resulting structure would be too cumbersome to handle. For that reason I prefer to construct a large background by using a plurality of units as above described in side by side relation. Each of the units is preferably constructed so as to fit with a corresponding unit in such manner that the screens of the adjacent units overlap. Furthermore, I prefer to provide separate driving means for each unit to provide flexibility in rigging the scenes, but I prefer to rigidly connect the drive shafts of adjacent units so that the units will reciprocate in synchronism.

In Figs. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the screens in a single unit (a single unit being illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5) Have their vertical marginal portions on one side arranged in horizontally staggered relation as at 8a, 8b and 8c and. their marginal portions on the other side staggered in a complementary manner. It will also be seen from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 5 that the connecting strips l2a, 12b and I20 are somewhat shorter, for example, one or two inches shorter than the screens to which they are connected. As .a result the adjacent units as indicated at A and B in Fig. 2 may be placed in end to end relation with the corresponding connecting strips substantially abutting as at I20 (Fig. 5) for example, and with the corresponding screens overlapping slightly as at 49 (Fig. 5). At the same time the staggered relation of the marginal portions of the screens tends to distribute the effect produced by joining the screens over a considerable area and does not give a sharply defined line of demarcation between the adjacent units which would be apt to be discovered.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the unit A is joined to a unit B on one side and to a third unit C on the other side. To provide for synchronizing the motions of these units an extension shaft 55 is provided to couple the shaft 31 to the shaft 3122 on the unit C. The shaft 55 is preferably provided with splined sleeves 56 at each end which are adapted to encompass the shafts 31 and 31b and engage pins 5'! projecting radially from these shafts. In order to accommodate any misalignment of the adjacent units the driving connection between the sleeves 55 and the pins 57 is preferably somewhat loose so as to give an action which is comparable to that provided by universal joints. A comparable extension shaft 55a provided with a splined sleeve 56a is furnished the unit B for coupling the drive mechanisms of the units A and B. The frame structures of the adjoined units A, B, and A, C. may be, and preferably are, rigidly connected together as at 58 and 59, through the agency of removable couplings or the like.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, a typical stage set-up utilizing the construction of my invention is illustrated. Referring particularly to Fig. 10, a large scene is illustrated in which a water background is provided to substantially surround a pair of boats BI and 62 which are suitably supported in a shallow tank 63 containing Water. The background is provided by a plurality of units D which are arranged to substantially completely surround the tank. With the particular scene illustrated there are two units at the ends of the tank and four on each side. The corners are closed by curved translucent drops E which 4 will not appear in the scene when the angle of view is correctly chosen but which tend to prevent extraneous light from reaching the interior of the scene. In Fig. 10 various positions for a camera or for viewing are indicated at 64, 65, 56, B1 and 68. The field of view in a horizontal plane for each of these positions is indicated by the dot-dash lines emanating therefrom. It will be seen that each of these positions can be so chosen as to include one or more of the units D for background without including the corners E.

In Fig. 9 a vertical section of part of the stage illustrated in Fig. 10 is shown and the unit D in this figure may be the same as the unit illustrated in Fig. 1. A light source 19 is provided on the platform 6 for illuminating the screens which are indicated in their entirety by the numeral 8 and a second light source H is shown located on the floor for directing light upwardly against the screens 8. These two lights will produce the shifting light and shadow pattern on the drop 50 upon reciprocation of the screen members as heretofore described.

The drop 50 is shown extending upwardly to provide a sky portion 5| which is illuminated by lights 12 and 13 which are supported by a suitable structure such as the walls of the studio or stage. These lights are used to illuminate the sky and/or produce the cloud patterns. The horizon line 52 on the drop 50, as well as the head structure 5 of the unit D may readily be adjusted vertically to bring the horizon into correct position as viewed from the decks of the boats. The actual location of the horizon line 52 does not necessarily conform to what would constitute eye level, inasmuch as exaggerated perspective effects may readily be obtained by disposing this horizon line above or below eye level.

As previously stated, the operating head structure 5 and the platform 6 are vertically adjustable on the support structure 4. The upwardly extending columns of the supporting structure are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 4a, and the head structure and platform are carried on tubular members 5a and 8a respectively which are slidable on the columns of the support structure 4 (see Fig. 1). The members 5a and 6a are locked in position on the columns by means of removable pins 5b and 6b which extend into the openings 40.. This construction gives great flexibility in that it allows vertical adjustment of the platform 5 and also of the operating head 5, whereby this head can be adjusted vertically to accommodate diiierent height screens and to provide for diiferent horizon heights in different scenes.

In order to obviate the necessity of bringing the level of the water in the tank to the lower level of the shifting light and shadow pattern produced by my stage or of providing painted drops extending between these levels, the angles of View are usually chosen so as to prevent the line of demarcation between the edge of the water in the tank and this area to appear. For example, the scene may be viewed from positions 14 and 15 in which the hulls of the boats will effectively obscure this portion of the scene.

My invention is obviously subject to considerable modification, hence I do not choose to be limited to the above described examples but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stage construction for producing shifting light and shadow patterns to simulate the appearance of a body of water, comprising: frame means; a plurality of screens movably mounted on said frame means and disposed in superimposed relation in the direction of light travel and each providing a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relatively transparent areas; and means for reciprocating said screens with respect to said frame means in phase displaced relation.

2. A stage construction for producing shifting light and shadow patterns to simulate the appearance of a body of water, comprising: frame means; a plurality of substantially vertically extending screens movably mounted on said frame means and disposed in superimposed relation in the direction of light travel and each providing a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relatively transparent areas; and means for reciprocating said screens vertically with respect to said frame means in phase displaced relation.

3. A construction as set forth in claim 2, the opaque areas and transparent areas of the respective screens generally progressively increasing in size from the top to the bottom of the superimposed portions of said screens.

4. A construction as set forth in claim 2, the opaque and transparent areas being generally elongated in a horizontal direction.

5. A construction as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising: a substantially vertically extending screen of diffusing light-transmitting material upon which the shadow pattern appears.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 2, there being at least three of said screens.

'7. A stage construction for producing shifting light and shadow patterns simulative of the appearance of a body of water, comprising: frame means; a plurality of relatively movable lighttransmitting screen members movably mounted on said frame means and disposed in a generally vertical relation and superimposed upon one an-- other with respect to the direction of light transmission therethrough, each of said screen members being provided with a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relativel transparents areas; and means for moving said screen members with respect to said frame means transversely of said direction in phase-displaced relation to one another.

8. A construction as set forth in claim 7, said screen members being disposed in generally ver tical parallel planes, and said means for moving said screen members being adapted to move said screen members generally in an upward and downward direction in their respective planes.

9. A construction as set forth in claim 7, the relatively opaque and transparent areas of said screen members being generally progressively decreased in size from the lower portion thereof to the upper portion thereof.

10. A cinematographic stage construction for use in combination with a drop providing a simulated horizon line, for producing shifting light and shadow patterns simulative of a body of water defining such horizon line, which comprises: frame means; a plurality of relatively movable light-transmitting screen members movably mounted on said frame means and disposed in generally vertical planes rearwardly of such drop with respect to the position of the cinematographic camera means employed to produce the desired cinematographic register; illumination producing means positioned rearwardly of said screen members and adapted to direct light forwardly through said screen members upon the,

rearward surface of said drop; and means for moving said screen members in a generally up and down direction with respect to said frame means in phase-displaced relation.

11. A construction as set forth in claim 10, the relatively opaque and transparent areas of said screen members being progressively decreased in size and spacing upwardly toward the position of said horizon line.

12. The construction set forth in claim 16, and comprising in addition an opaque member secured to said drop at the position of said horizon line and positioned to shade the portion of said drop above said line from light produced by said illumination-producing means.

13. The construction set forth in claim 10, the relatively opaque and transparent areas of said screen members being progressively decreased in size and spacing upwardly toward the position of said horizon line, and said construction including an opaque member secured to said drop at the position of said horizon line and positioned to shade the portion of said drop above said line from light produced by said illuminationproducing means.

14. The construction set forth in claim 10, said construction including a plurality of roll-er means carried by said frame means and extending in a generally horizontal direction and supporting the respective screen members in closely spaced relation to one another.

15. A construction as set forth in claim 10, in which said plurality of screen members comprises at least three screen members.

16. A stage construction for producing shifting light and shadow patterns to simulate the appearance of a body of water, comprising: vertically extending frame means; a plurality of horizontally extending laterally spaced rollers journaled for rotation on said frame means in the upper portions thereof; a screen for each of said rollers, each of said screens providing a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relatively transparent areas, each of said screens extending substantially vertically downward from over one side of its roller; crank means journaled for rotation on said frame means; means for rotating said crank means; and means associating said crank means with each of said screens at positions on the other side of each of said rollers for moving said screens over said rollers in out of phase reciprocation.

1'7. A stage construction for producing shifting light and shadow patterns tosimulate the appearance of a body of Water, comprising: vertically extending frame means; a plurality of horizontally extending laterally spaced rollers journaled for rotation on said frame means in the upper portions thereof; a screen for each of said rollers, each of said screens providing a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relatively transparent areas, each of said screens extending substantially vertically downward from over one side of its roller; separate cable means connected to each of said screens at a position on the other side of its respective roller; a single throw crank journaled for rotation on said frame means; and means guiding said separate cable means to said single throw crank from different angular directions, whereby rotation of said crank produces out of phase reciprocation of said screens.

18. A stage construction for producing shifting light and shadow patterns to simulate the appearance of a body of water, which comprises: a plurality of interchangeable units arranged in side-by-side relation, each of said units comprising: frame means; a plurality of substantially vertically extending screens movably mounted on said frame means and disposed in superimposed relation in the direction of light travel and each providing a plurality of relatively opaque areas interspersed with relatively transparent areas; and means for reciprocating said screens vertically with respect to said frame means in phase displaced relation, the screens in each unit having their vertical marginal portions on one side arranged in horizontally staggered relation and their marginal portions on the other side staggered in a complementary manner, whereby said units may be placed side by side, with corresponding screens in adjacent units substantially abutting and with the vertical marginal areas of screns in adjacent units superimposed in the direction of light travel.

19. A construction as set forth in claim 18, further comprising means for synchronizing the motion of corresponding screens in adjacent units.

20. A construction as set forth in claim 18, each of said units comprising three of said substantially vertically extending screens.

ANTON F. GROT. 

